108: How Lean, Industry 4.0, and Supply Chain are Interconnected with Antonio Hill

There’s a good chance you already have a tool from the Stanley Black & Decker family in your toolkit. They’re household names, quality, reliable tools, and we wanted to hear more about the manufacturing process behind them.

Antonio Hill, Head of Manufacturing Digital Solutions, Global Supply Chain at Stanley Black & Decker, joins Manufacturing Happy Hour to talk about his career, the challenges of managing supply chains, the impact of Industry 4.0, and what lean manufacturing means to him.

We hear how Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturing (bringing some important skills with him) and how he’s grown in his career since. We hear some top advice on starting with a lean process, building a “culture of lean,” and managing supply chain issues now and in the future. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so you won’t want to miss it!

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3 Quick Things from this Episode

  1. Lean manufacturing is a scientific way of reducing costs and waste.
  2. Digitization is not a one-fix scenario. You still need to fully understand the process to make it more efficient.
  3. To conquer the supply chain, you must look at all of it and remember that the supply chain doesn’t end at the customer’s purchase. You need a review after that as well.

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Tweetable Quotes

  • “No one can predict the future, so in order for us not to go and try to hire Nostradamus, let’s go ahead and create processes where we’re getting the right information in order to make the best decision for our organization.”
  • “We’re always trying to improve the marginal cost and reduce costs to improve our business. We want our business to be the best.”
  • “I think that a lot of times people get laser-focused on what they’re on and not necessarily take the holistic approach.”

Please Scroll Down for Recommended Resources from this Episode

Do you want to connect with other leaders that are moving the needle in manufacturing everyday? Then make sure to join us in the Manufacturing Happy Hour Industry Community on LinkedIn.

The 13th Annual American Manufacturing Strategies Summit is taking place October 11-12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Listen to this episode for a discount code to this year’s event. Register today.

Interested in generating leads through videos, podcasts, or other digital content? Then make sure to check out our 6 Strategies for Growing Your Manufacturing Business Using Social Media.

What We Discuss with Antonio

  • How Antonio made the jump from HR to manufacturing
  • What lean manufacturing is
  • How Industry 4.0 affects Antonio’s work
  • Why data is the key to building more efficient processes
  • Why you need a “culture of lean” in manufacturing
  • Why you need to know your facility inside-out
  • The challenges of managing supply chains (especially in a pandemic)
  • Antonio shares the coolest thing about working at Stanley Black & Decker

Recommended Resources

  • AMS Summit, learn from manufacturing leaders about the most impactful trends in manufacturing – from workforce development to lean & OpEx – talking place October 11-12 in Houston, TX
  • Stanley Black & Decker, manufacturer of iconic tools from household names such as BLACK+DECKER, DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, and more.

Connect with Antonio and Stanley Black & Decker

LinkedIn | Twitter | Antonio Hill